Emma Porter, Managing Director of Story Contracting’s Construction Division, has today been announced as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in the Engineering Sector.
The list, produced by board appointments firm Inclusive Boards in partnership with the Financial Times, will be officially released at the Inclusive Boards: Women in Engineering Leadership Conference on October 22nd.
The news comes just weeks after it was announced Emma is the new Managing Director of Story Contracting’s Construction division.
Development Director Elizabeth Oni-Iyiola said: “Engineers have an impact on almost every area of our day to day lives. Emma and those featured today are role models who inspire those around them and demonstrate leadership and influence in the work that they do.”
Patrick Clarke, Director of Network Operations at UK Power Networks and judge for the list said:
“I am personally inspired but not at all surprised by the tremendous talent on the Women in Engineering list. Sadly, there are still plenty of people who will be surprised due to a mind-set which say Engineering equals males not females. I took part as a judge because I wanted to be inspired.”
Emma Porter said: “I love working in the Engineering sector and want to use my experience to encourage more women to choose an education and career in STEM.
“I am not saying that women are better, simply that diversity is better. And the lack of diversity we currently see in the industry means we need to be making much more of an effort to encourage girls to consider careers in construction and engineering.
Emma added: “There’s a strong perception that it is ‘not for women’ or that they are somehow unsuited to the work. In reality, we need more young people, both women and men, to join the industry to keep up with the workload at a time when we have an aging workforce and also to bring the diversity of skills we need.”
Those featured include senior leaders from top engineering firms such as Amey, Arup, BAE Systems, and Laing O’Rourke.
